To think DD is being a bit snobby to say pet food from cheap shop isn't good enough for the hamster!?

[SixtyFive65]

DD is 16 and rather obsessed over this hamster. All her money goes on it. It really does live a ridiculously good life.

Anyway, DD asked if I could pick up some food for it today - she gave me the money.

I thought to be nice, I'd pay for it and got her the hamster and mouse food from B&M. Oh she wasn't happy when I got home, declaring he can only have blooming Harry Hamster food or god knows what it was. It's £2 more expensive!! I said I wasn't paying that, but she didn't even say thank you for buying the food, just oh that's why I gave you the money.

WIBU???

And if you can't get it if don't want to get it just say. She could get it hersel.

But please don't say you will do something then do it wrong.

If McDonalds was unhealthy they wouldn't be allowed to sell it.

Doesn't mean Maccy's for breakfast lunch and dinner is healthy. Which is the hamster equivalent of B&M hamster food that you think it should have. Would you give your kids Maccys for breakfast lunch and dinner for six weeks?

She said can you please get some of the food that I feed X, there's £5 on the side. She didn't say the exact brand.

I'm 'obsesssed' with my house rabbits.

The cheaper small animal food is usually full of filler and crap that encourages selective eating even though it says on the packaging that it doesn't. Not something that's going to harm your animal but it's not going to be health either.

And just because shops are allowed to sell something doesn't mean it's not harmful. Most cages that you can buy aren't big enough for a healthy and happy animal.

Presumably she thought you knew what brand?

OK, I think she should have been clearer then that she wanted definitely that brand and no other. Still her choice to buy it as a regular thing.

You could have looked at the bag if you didn't already know.

I used to make up hamster food for a pet shop. I wouldn't feed a hamster the cheap shit either.

SaucyJack Yes, some more than others the same as cats. Sometimes it helps changing their food, but some will still leave certain piece and have to go on pellet food in the end. If they are selective feeding they will be missing out on a part of their diet so it can make them ill. They will all have their favourite pieces but it's fine to eat them first as long as they eat it all in the end

Hamsters can be very stubborn, you could feed them less and they would go hungry rather than eat the piece they are leaving, or you could just leave all of those in the bowl and they would ignore it. Unfortunately you have to give in before them because it's important they eat regularly or they will deteriorate quickly.

I think she has probably being reading the blogs by various hamster people. There are different qualities of food and we do use Harry Hamster.

Dd is even more precious about the bedding. The one our vet sells is not safe apparently .

It's very traumatic when they pass away so we generally buy what she wants in case we get the blame.

mynewname what bedding does she have and won't she have? She may be wise, I have had 2 vets tell me just leave them on food when selective eating, they don't live long anyway so it won't kill them so vets could sell unsuitable stuff, the majority won't treat hamsters as its not worth it, so if a rep took hamster bedding or food in and they made some money on it they could go with it sadly. Also some will sell it as it's good for rabbits, and it will say hamster on the packet but it wouldn't actually be advisable for hamsters

So why didn't you ask then?

I mean she should have said the name.of the brand however you equally could have asked.

She gave you the money I don't understand why you would buy something you know she won't use and think you were being nice

Harry Hamster is the only hamster food approved by the National Hamster Council. Your daughter has clearly done her research and you were being unreasonable not to buy it when she gave you the money for it, presuming you know what one the hamster normally eats. Pedigree dog food is full of crap, but they still sell it. It's not going to kill the pets but it's not the best they can have. If you can afford the best then you get the best, whether it's just a hamster or not.

YABVU

I obviously didn't buy it thinking she wouldn't use it. I thought she'd be grateful that she didn't need to spend her money on it.

I think you've had quite a bashing in here, you were trying to do something kind and it's not your fault that this has happened and you don't have the knowledge about hamsters (most people wouldn't, even those that own a hamster! ) but your daughter is correct in not using the food, though she should have thanked you. She should have made sure you knew what food to get, but she does deserve a big hug and a well done for looking after her hamster as best she can. I apologise if my posts have come across badly, just trying to explain things as I have a lot of experience with hamsters (and after this I really want to go and get a new one!)

I would put the food in a food bank collection, it might not be the best food but it might help a child keep their hamster if they have something to feed it until they can buy more food, that way it's not being wasted. You or your daughter need to get the right food, and should give each other an apology and a hug because both slightly in the wrong and it's really no big deal so forget about it.

🐹 🐹 🐹

It is not snobby to want high quality food for your pet. Since she gave you the money for the food you should have bought the food she wanted or asked her to go herself.

How on earth is it snobby to want to provide your pet with decent quality food?

She asked if you could buy the hamster food the hamster usually eats, she gave you money for it, you apparently agreed to do this, and then you bought something different she won't (and shouldn't) use. Why should she act like you've done her some great favour when really you've just totally ignored what she asked of you.

FFS, it's a hamster. You bought it hamster food. Job done.

It's bad enough on here with all the picky eaters at the best of times. Please let's not start with fucking picky hamsters.

I'm off to research hamster food now. We bought a bag when we bought the hamster and he's still working his way through it - he eats so little (Russian dwarf). DD obsessed with not over-feeding him as told this is a risk. He has about a teaspoon of dried food then the odd slice of cucumber, carrot, parsley leaf etc and occasionally some popped corn which he absolutely loves. He seems to be doing ok on it, but I'm a hamster novice.

In can understand you had good intentions but no I wouldn't feed my pet different food, just because someone bought it. It could upset their digestive system if they are used to something different.

@EastMidsMummy if you brought your kid a takeaway each night or frozen food each night, would you be saying that you brought them food, so job done?

*bought

Changing a hamsters diet suddenly can make it ill. If you're going to use this food make sure it is weaned onto it by mixing a small amount with the normal food for a while.

So you knew what food to get, decided you knew better and that you'd just spend less on a different brand without doing any research? Yeah yabu

IT was nice of you to try and save her some money, your heart was in the right place. However she's more knowledgeable than you when it comes to pet care and now stuck with something she doesn't trust to feed her beloved pet - that's why she hasn't apologised, she's probably panicking over what to feed him.

It's nice to read about someone, especially a child, looking after a small pet so well. So many rabbits and hamsters have awful lives with people who treat them like toys and give them the basic care, if that.